They're calling it the largest hoverboard seizure ever in the United States.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced on Wednesday that they confiscated 16,000 so-called hoverboards from a suburban Chicago warehouse.
#CBP officers in Chicago have seized 16K counterfeit hoverboards with unauthorized batteries & fake trademark logos pic.twitter.com/ehn9ThHEUC— CBP (@CustomsBorder) January 27, 2016
All told, the hoverboards, which Customs says contained unauthorized batteries, are worth an estimated $6 million. The counterfeits, likely from China or East Asia, were found at a warehouse in Barrington, Illinois, about 40 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.
While hoverboards became one of the most popular gadgets to own during the Christmas season, they have grown increasingly dangerous, with widespread reports of explosions and fires caused by the devices.
Such dangers make the counterfeit gadgets, with cheaper batteries, even more hazardous. At least one recent hoverboard fire in Fox River Grove, Illinois was blamed on a counterfeit device.
In a statement, Director of Field Operations, William Ferrara said, “Not only are these hoverboards a serious safety hazard but they also threaten our economic security by hurting legitimate businesses who invest significant amounts of resources into development and protection of their brands.”